Stephen Hawking Warns of AI Risks; India Suffers Massive Cyberattack

Today’s Tech Sightings:

British scientist Stephen Hawking arrives to attend the launch of The Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (CFI), at the University of Cambridge, in Cambridge, eastern England, on Oct. 19, 2016. (AFP)

Renowned physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking again warned against the dangers of advancements in artificial intelligence. Speaking at the launch of The Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (CFI) in Cambridge, England, Hawking said more advanced AI could lead to “powerful autonomous weapons” or new ways “for the few to oppress the many.” Depending on how AI is managed, he said the technology could save humanity or destroy it.

A new study from the nonprofit Girls Who Code and research firm Accenture projects the number of U.S. women in computing will drop from 24 percent to 22 percent by 2025. Researchers say if steps are taken now to encourage more women to study computer science, then their number in computing could triple within the projected period to 3.9 million.

At least 3.2 million debit card details were stolen Thursday from several financial institutions in one of India’s worst data breaches. The malware that was used to compromise the country’s Hitachi Payment Services platform, which powers financial transactions, went on to infect other banks, including the State Bank of India.

Aida Akl is a journalist working on VOA's English Webdesk. She has written on a wide range of topics, although her more recent contributions have focused on technology. She has covered both domestic and international events since the mid-1980s as a VOA reporter and international broadcaster.